tussle

[ tuhs-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, tus·sled, tus·sling.

1. to struggle or fight roughly or vigorously; wrestle; scuffle.

noun

1. a rough physical contest or struggle; scuffle.
2. any vigorous or determined struggle, conflict, etc.:

   I had quite a tussle with that chemistry exam.

tussle

/ ˈtʌsəl /

verb

1. intr to fight or wrestle in a vigorous way; struggle

noun

1. a vigorous fight; scuffle; struggle

Word History and Origins

Origin of tussle¹

1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots ) tusillen, derivative ( -le ) of tusen to touse

Word History and Origins

Origin of tussle¹

C15: related to Old High German zūsen ; see tousle

Example Sentences

And don’t forget Luca Guadagnino’s sexy-cool tennis-world tussle, “Challengers,” a propulsive movie I still haven’t quite recovered from, even though I saw it in April.

From Los Angeles Times

It sounds like the Dodgers are equating the fourth game of the World Series to a spring training tussle, but guess what?

From Los Angeles Times

So it appears in the tussle between Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.

From BBC

But at T-Boy Wrestling, all expressions of trans masculinity are welcome to tussle on the mat.

From Los Angeles Times

And so it is now a tussle between Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick for second place.

From BBC

Related Words

• scuffle
• tangle
• wrestle